Friday 29 April 2016

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

This week's Friday Die Day is another new Die D-Lite and it features
one of the all time crafty favourites (and mine) - a butterfly!

The die set is called Brilliant Butterfly.
It consists of two dies and the approximate measurements are:

Butterfly: 2.20 x 1.55 in
Flourish: 2.05 x 1.20 in

This is how it looks cut/embossed.


I've chosen to make a simple mini card this week.
Card base of white, further matting of craft card and bright green.
All using 6 x 6 Matting Basics A and B.


On a further piece of white card I've positioned
the butterfly within a 6 x 6 Matting Basics B.


I'm keeping the aperture piece and placed 3D Foam Squares to the reverse.

I stamped a sentiment to the bottom section - Scripty Sayings from Lawn Fawn.
Once the aperture piece was in place I reinserted the die cut pink butterfly.
Simples!


A close up pic.

 Brilliant Butterfly is available to buy from your Spellbinders retailer
now and because it is a Die D-Lite these are normally bargains
and nice additions to your die collection.
Tomorrow I am up with the lark and heading to Leeds.
I will be demoing all day at Samuel Taylors, Roseville Street.
If you live that way it will be wonderful to see you.
Wishing you all a brilliant (possibly butterfly!) weekend.
Take care friends.

Wednesday 27 April 2016

Decorative Swallowtail Tags


Hello friends

Today's card features the very lovely Decorative Swallowtail Tags.
Another one of the stunning dies from Becca Feeken's 
Amazing Paper Grace collection.  
Teamed with silver mirror card makes it extra elegant and
also the embossing shows through beautifully.


This is one of my demo sample cards so it has been mounted 
onto a white background.
I've used a stamp for the sentiment and the little decorative black heart,
apologies a very old stamp and I've misplaced (not lost!) the packaging.


The die set contains 5 dies in total and is available to purchase
from Spellbinders retailers now.


This collection is stated as being for weddings but I can envisage
lots of uses for such a pretty die set. 
Again, deciding where to place the pearls took the longest! 

Take care friends and hope your week is going well.


Monday 25 April 2016

Winning Number and What's That Card!

Hello friends

Time to announce the winning number from this month's
Charity Kit.  It was a super fast seller.  
And the number is....


Please check your kit bags to see if you are number 304 and 
if so, drop me an email at creativity-continues@outlook.com
Please include your address so I can send out your prize goodies to you.

May's kit is having the finishing touches put to it and will be revealed
in the first week of May.  
Again lots of thanks to my Mum who is the absolute die-cutting Queen!

Yesterday Linda asked what card I used in the charity kits,
all the plain card I send out is from Papermill Direct - I've been using a lot
of their pearlised and ultra white card in the kits recently,
it die cuts beautifully and the sheen is lovely for projects.
Link to their website here.


The kits have been going for quite some time now and I fully
intend to carry on.  I feel cards seem to be the most popular...what do you think?

Take care friends.







Sunday 24 April 2016

It's A Match!

Hello friends

Today sharing with you a project using the Perfect Match Contour die.
This is one of Spellbinders steel rule dies so is thicker format and works
through machines like the Platinum.  It is also A4 so a larger machine is required.
I decorated the matchbox with some ribbon and Flower Play and Sprigs die cuts.


A stamped label inserted under the flower and pearls are the finishing touches.


These are so handy for little gifts.
The finished boxes measure approx. 3.25" x 2.5" -
room enough for some chocolates!


The same matchbox was included in March's Charity Kit and teamed with
Ferns and Pretty Petals.


There is still a couple of March's kits left - rare but true! 
If you missed it the link is here.

I'm having a busy Sunday working on projects in my cabin -
what are you up to?
Take care friends.



Friday 22 April 2016

Friday Die Day

Hello friends

Whoosh...and it's Friday again,
it goes so fast at the moment.

This week's Friday Die Day is featuring one of the new
Die D-Lites - Label and Accent

A really handy little die set featuring a frame, label and leafy swirl accent.

The approximate measurements are:

Frame: 1.90 x 3.00 in
Label: 1.15 x 2.10 in
Accent: 0.80 x 1.70 in
 
This is how they look cut/embossed.

 
I've designed a simple card die cutting the frame from green,
white stamped label and cut three accents.

 
White card base with A2 Matting Basics.
The papers are My Mind's Eye - On Trend

 
Positioned the frame top centre of card.

 
Added the label and accents.
A flower from Marisa's Bouquet is the finishing touch.


 
This Die D-Lite is available from Spellbinders retailers now and
because it is a D-Lite they are bargains!
 
Answering Michele's question yesterday...
the motor for the Platinum is due to be released later this year,
I'm not certain of a definite date but will keep you posted here on my blog
and Facebook.
 
Take care friends, have a great weekend.
 

Thursday 21 April 2016

Bendy Plates?

Hello friends

Do you suffer from bendy plates!?
(Only those who die cut will understand, if you've stumbled across this blog
you may wonder what on earth I'm talking about!)

Well if you do... hopefully a useful tip today.

I've noticed over time my plates for the Platinum have worn and begin to bend,
this can be minimised by keep turning them but it cannot be put off forever.
This is a set of plates that are just beginning to curve.

Select a shallow heat proof dish (this is my lasagne dish).
Place the plates in the bottom and cover with boiling water from the kettle.
Be careful - no scorched fingers please!


You need to weight them so something fairly heavy.
Ok...wine bottles were to hand in my house!
But tins or a house brick would also work.
Leave until the water cools, say 30 minutes or more.


Dry and inspect.
The plates are definitely flatter and also it gives them a good clean,
a lot of the trapped card pieces were left in the water.


Now I cannot guarantee this will ensure eternal life of your plates
but it certainly helps to flatten them!

Take care friends and please stop by tomorrow for FDD.



Tuesday 19 April 2016

Blog Hop - Stampendous and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Hello friends

Today I'm delighted to be taking part in a blog hop with Stampendous


Stampendous are sponsoring this hop and giving away prizes, I was lucky to
be provided with some lovely products to take part.


The Stampendous stamp set I've used for my card is Daisy Mix.
I loved the boldness of the design and thought it would make an ideal background.


Once stamped I used A2 Matting Basics to create my background.


Adhered this to a black piece of card using MyStik Permanent Strips.


Twine held in place on the reverse with Crafty Power Tape.


My stamped sentiment is affixed with 3D Foam Squares.


My finished monochrome card.


Please follow the link here to see the full hop and prizes on offer.
And don't forget to check out the hop every day this week.

Take care friends.



Sunday 17 April 2016

Bluebells and Bella

Hello friends

Scheduling this post as I will be driving back from Oldham today.
 
Yay...the best time of the year finally feels like it is here - Spring!
When walking Bella I spotted some bluebells, they are later in these woods
this year.



 Bella looking somewhat confused at my Springtime enthusiasm! 
There's even a sprig of holly in this photo - talk about mixing the seasons!



Thinking of Springtime I thought I would share a definite Spring card.
This features Marisa's Bouquet (of course!)
Mini Envelope Three, 6 x 6 Matting Basics and Grate Effect.


So simple to do and still in my white phase!
Hope you are all having a good weekend and fitting in some crafting time.

Take care friends.

Friday 15 April 2016

Friday Die Day

Hello friends
 
This week's Friday Die Day is featuring
Decorative Swallowtail Tags.
A Shapeabilities die set designed by Becca Feeken for her
Amazing Paper Grace collection.
The approximate measurements are:
 
Tag Small: 2.00 x 3.25 in
Tag Large: 2.85 x 4.75 in
Banner: 4.40 x 1.00 in
Accent: 2.20 x 2.20 in
 
This is how they look cut/embossed.

 
I've chosen to make a card and die cut one Tag Large and Banner from
gold mirror card.
I also typed a sentiment on my computer (font is French Script)
and die cut that with a die from A2 Matting Basics.

 
I chopped the banner die cut in half placed behind Tag Large and placed
Tag Small on top.

 
My card base is 6 x 6 Matting Basics with a further 6 x 6 mat
cut from ivory card.

 
Centered my tags and placed the sentiment across.
Placed a few pearls to decorate.

 
It was actually dry and sunny on the day I took the photos!


 
 
Decorative Swallowtail Tags is available from your Spellbinders
retailer now and look out for some further designer collections coming up -
lots of lovely things!
 
Wishing you all a great weekend, I'm going to be at Sophie's Crafts in Oldham,
I shall be doing a workshop and a demo - busy busy!
 
Take care friends.